Marathons Chocolate Ale Wine & Pies!

ChocatlonChocatlonChocolate and marathons sound like two things that probably should not mix, right? (Snickers excluded:))

Well according to the scenes I saw and captured at this year’s Huddersfield ChocAthlon they actually seemed like a perfect fit! If you’re not the keenest of runners, I bet the idea of chocolate treats at the finish line and at various ‘feed stations’ along the way might be the enough to convince you to get your running shoes on! This 9km trail run takes place in Marsden and is organised by Team OA, a company that was established with the aim of ‘putting the fun back into run’ with their themed races.

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If you’re looking for a boozier alternative to the ChocAthlon, a WineAthlon or Ale Athlon might be more up your street – which, perhaps unsurprisingly, is always a hit with Stag and Hen parties. I’ve had the very amusing pleasure of photographing both these types of events for Team OA in the past. There is even a PieAthlon and CakeAthlon for those who get a bit peckish when exercising. My job at these types of events is to really capture the atmosphere of each event, which is easy to do as everyone is usually in good spirits and ready to laugh in their fancy dress outfits.

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Although it’s not only these fun-themed races that Team OA provide, they also provide more traditional marathons (aka ones that lack the snacks or alcoholic beverages) across West Yorkshire. This year I’ll be in charge of capturing the Huddersfield, Halifax, the Oldham Way Ultra and Wakefield Marathons. It’s always inspiring to see the entrants working so hard to smash their targets and never give up on getting the best possible time they can on the day.

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Pictures of competitors are available for a free download as a memento to remember what is always a great day. The images are also used for promotional purposes by Team OA and are shared on the website and across social media. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Team OA events and sharing all the photos with you on their website here: TEAM OA ,so keep an eye out for these over the coming months!